site.btaCourt of Last Resort Invalidates Cessation of Sofia's Soviet Army Monument Dismantling

Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) has invalidated an order issued by the Sofia City Administrative Court (SCAC) of December 19, 2023 for the unconditional cessation of actions taken by officials of the Sofia City Regional Administration for the dismantling and cutting of the bronze sculptures of Sofia's Soviet Army Monument.

The SAC acted on an appeal lodged by the Regional Administration against the Rise Up BG civic association, a Sofia municipal councillor and two private individuals who contested the monument's dismantling before the SCAC.

The SAC found that the lower court's order was inadmissible because the civic association and the natural persons lacked standing to lodge the appeal because the dismantling and cutting do not affect directly and immediately the claimants' subjective rights and interests and, therefore, should have been set aside and the proceedings in that administrative case should be terminated.